General Beauregard Lee may not return, but plans are underway to reopen the former Yellow River Game Ranch in Lilburn to public once again.

The new owners, Katy and Jonathon Ordway, have no experience in operating a zoo. But the real estate investors have a heart for animals.

“This has been an institution for 50 years. To see it go---we can’t have that,” he tells WSB’s Sandra Parrish.

Katy made the odd request to purchase it to her husband after taking their four kids to visit the game ranch in November and realizing “inventory” was low.

“It wasn’t even a question of ‘why’. If we can make this work financially, let’s do it,” she says.

The couple has big plans for the 20 animals still left on the property including four bears, nine bison, three pigs, and several deer and birds.

They’re in the middle of making a new two-acre habitat for the bears which are currently in an enclosed 2,000-square foot pen.

“We’re going to be building a waterfall, a pond, a new night-house for the bears, (and) a quarantine area. It’s going to be state-of-the-art,” says Jonathon.

The bison will also get a second pasture to make sure one always remains lush.

They hope to reopen the facility as the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary early next year.

“Our priority is the animals. So, if it takes six months or six years--as long as the animals are taken care of, then we’re doing our job right,” says Jonathon.

It’s good news for Maria Mendoza, who came with her son hoping to visit the animals. She didn’t know the game ranch was closed and looks forward to seeing the renovations.

“I’m going to come back and see how much it’s changed. I’m definitely coming back, I like this place,” she says.